In this observation, pay attention to how your teacher manages his or her classroom. What types of disruptions, if any, occur while you're visiting? How do they set the class in motion? How do they deal with interruptions (from the outside) and disruptions (from their students)? Determine whether there are students in the classes that you will teach that are especially troublesome. Ask your CT how he or she addresses these students' needs. Reflect on your "vision" of an ideal science classroom. What classroom policies will you try to implement in YOUR classroom? How does your vision align with your teaching philosophy?
Observe:
Something that I have noticed is that depending on what "level" (honors, cp1, cp2) the class is at, there are generally more or less disruptions. In Mrs. Bowers' honors classes there are very little disruptions, if any. Students usually sit down and wait for her to start the lesson. They listen attentively and rarely act up or cause a distraction because according to my CT they are, "more worried about their grade then todays gossip." I hate to stereotype and generalize the students in the lower level classes, but they do cause a lot more disruptions. There is a range of disruptions from talking to neighbors, getting out of their seat, and speaking out of turn. However, I personally enjoy the CP1 and CP2 students. Their personalities show a lot more in class and they are a lot more lively and active. They "keep you on your toes" and always have something interesting to say. With the honors kids they just kind of sit their and wait for the information to be brought to them.
Reflect:
Even though I will be teaching both honors and CP students, I will hold the same standards and classroom expectations for both types of classes. Disruptions will not be tolerated and in order to calm students down and keep them from getting distracted, I always want to be engaging them in some sort of activity or inquiry which defers them from every day distractions. One rule that I will set for myself would be to try everything in my power to keep a student attentive and learning before I "kick them out of class." As I have said before, I do not believe in kicking students out of the classroom, I believe that just sets them back farther and is a temporary solution to a not so temporary problem. There are a couple students that I have observed who are constant disruptions in Mrs. Bowers classroom, however I have gained a positive relationship with them and I believe that they respect me and will hopefully listen to me if asked to settle down and stop talking.
I think my vision of having a successful and educational classroom will be met because I feel that I will be there for my students when need be. Being "fair but firm" will hopefully gain the respect and trust of my students to the point where they know what I expect from them and what I will not tolerate.
Observe:
Something that I have noticed is that depending on what "level" (honors, cp1, cp2) the class is at, there are generally more or less disruptions. In Mrs. Bowers' honors classes there are very little disruptions, if any. Students usually sit down and wait for her to start the lesson. They listen attentively and rarely act up or cause a distraction because according to my CT they are, "more worried about their grade then todays gossip." I hate to stereotype and generalize the students in the lower level classes, but they do cause a lot more disruptions. There is a range of disruptions from talking to neighbors, getting out of their seat, and speaking out of turn. However, I personally enjoy the CP1 and CP2 students. Their personalities show a lot more in class and they are a lot more lively and active. They "keep you on your toes" and always have something interesting to say. With the honors kids they just kind of sit their and wait for the information to be brought to them.
Reflect:
Even though I will be teaching both honors and CP students, I will hold the same standards and classroom expectations for both types of classes. Disruptions will not be tolerated and in order to calm students down and keep them from getting distracted, I always want to be engaging them in some sort of activity or inquiry which defers them from every day distractions. One rule that I will set for myself would be to try everything in my power to keep a student attentive and learning before I "kick them out of class." As I have said before, I do not believe in kicking students out of the classroom, I believe that just sets them back farther and is a temporary solution to a not so temporary problem. There are a couple students that I have observed who are constant disruptions in Mrs. Bowers classroom, however I have gained a positive relationship with them and I believe that they respect me and will hopefully listen to me if asked to settle down and stop talking.
I think my vision of having a successful and educational classroom will be met because I feel that I will be there for my students when need be. Being "fair but firm" will hopefully gain the respect and trust of my students to the point where they know what I expect from them and what I will not tolerate.